Brake-pull indicator



l etented dune E7, 1924,

teases ear ear ermine GEORGE T. PARSLEY, OF ASHLAND, OREGON.

BRAKE-PULL INDICATOR.

Application filed May 12, 1923.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. PARsLnY, a citizen or the United States, and a resident of Ashland, county of Jackson, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Brake- Pull indicator, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionr'relates to indicators for registering the pull or pressure of a brake mechanism, so that the set of the brake at any time may be determinedby referring to an indicator dial, and it has for its particular objects such an indicator which is adapted for placing upon an automobile or other vehicle, and connected to the brake rod or other brake mechanism, with its indicating dial on the dash in plain view of the vehicle operator, and further, a device though a.dapt able for use with any form of brake is particularly adaptable for use with the many types of mechanical brakes, especially the so-called electric brake.

I obtain the result above outlined by the device illustrated in the drawing forming a part of this application, and in which Figure l is a plan view of an automobile chassis including a portion or. the dash and showing my brake pull indicator installed and connected, in this instance to an electric brake.

Figure 2 is a perspective sketch of the coacting levers showing a portion each of the brake rod and indicator cord secured thereto.

Figure 3 is an elevation front view of the indipator dial which is to be secured to the dies Figures land 5 show optional means of operating the indicator pointer from the cord leading to the leverage system.

"in further detail in Figure 1 the auto body drama is shown at (1) with certain transverse .rnembers, of which those concerning this application are numbered (2) and At ;-(lare shown the rearwheels oi the auto with. the brake bands indicated at At (6) is shown the usual transverse shaft which operates the brake hands, and at (7) a crank connecting it to the brake vpull rod (8) The rod (8) normally the rod which connects with the hand or foot lever for manipulation by the vehicle driver, but in this instance it is shown connected to a leverage system comprising a lever (9) ivotally amehored at (10) to the cross mem er (2), with another lever (11) pivoted to the first lever Serial No. 638,629.

at (12), the lever (11) carryingnear its center a pivoted connection 13) secured to the pull rod 8), and at its extreme end (14) is connected to the push rod (15) of any form of mechanical brake pusher as indicated at (16). This device (16), known as an electric brake, is secured to the transverse frame member (3). it represents an electrically operated plunger push rod mechanism now on the market and forming no part of my invention except in so far as it functions to operate the same.

The lever (9) works in a guide (17), and is normally pulled against the end of the guide by a strong spring (18).

In Figure 2, a perspective sketch of the lever system, the elements and connections just described are similarly numbered. and their relation clearly shown.

To the end or" the lever (9) is secured a small wire cord (19) passing through a tube (20) running forward to the indicator dial on the dash, shown through broken portion of the drawing at (21).

The face of the dial is substantially as shown in FigureB and consists of suitable indicating marks or numbers as shown with a rotatable pointer (22) secured to a pointer shaft (23) the mechanism being inclosed in a case indicated at (25)- v The construction of the mechanism under the dial may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I herewith show in Figures 4: and 5 two of the simpler arrangements. Both figures are cross-sections through the case (25) just under the dial and show all important elements.

In reference to Figure 4c, the cord (19) is shown making a turn or two about a small drum (24) secured to the pointer shaft (23). Thefinal end of the cord is secured to a rod (26) threaded. at its outer end and provided with a nut (2?) for adjustment to take up slack or a ter the 'ten- 'sion on the cord- The nut works against a spiral spring (28) reacting against the casing as shown, to keep the cord taut.

The structure in Figure 5 functions the same, but dispenses with the drum and substitutes a gear (29) secured to the pointer shaft (23) which is rotated by a toothed rack (30) engaging the gear and o erating up and down in the casing (25 Surrounding the rack is a spiral spring (31) ill? bearing against a nut (32) threaded to the .end of the rack and reacting against the casing to keep the cord taut, being the same oliice as the spring shown inFigure 4.

The operation of in device is as follows:

Upon energizing t e electric or. power brake (16), its push rod (15) is forcibly extruded and pushes the end of the lever (11) away and also carries with it the rod (8) thus turning the shaft (6) and applying the brakes (5) to the wheels (l). The lever (11) being pivoted at (12) to lever (9) .pulls the latter downward on its pivot (10) and against the tension of the spring (18) the spring (18) being of a strength to withstand the maximum pull put upon the rod (8) by the electric brake (16); and the end of lever (9) being connected to the cord (19) pulls the latter through the cover pipe (20) and actuates the incicator pointer by revolving its shaft, either through the means shown in Figure 4 or the arrangement shown in Figure 5.

The spring (28) or (31) in either indicator mechanism keeps the cord taut, the nut adjustment serving to insure this and also, through pulling of the cord to turn the pointer shaft for changing the setting of the pointer on the dial, so that when there is no pull on the rod (8), the pointer will indicate Zero.

It will thus be seen that the greater the force exerted b the electric brake against the end of the ever (11) the greater will be the tension on the pull rod (8) and consequent greater depression of lever (9).

The cord (19) being pulled a distance depending on the pressure exerted by the mechanical pusher will of course turn the pointer of the indicator. a proportionate distance and there record the brake pressure in whatever terms the dial may he graduated in.

It is of course apparent that the device may be used with any form of power or hand operated brake by slight modification of its connection to a convenient brake rod.

I claim:

1. In a brake mechanism, an actuating tension member for operating the brake, a motion indicator, compensating meanism connecting the indicator with the tension, member adapted to transmit a movement to messes the indicator proportionate to the tension on the member.

2. A brake pull indicator for vehicles, comprising a brake pull rod, a pull indicator, an actuating device extending from said indicator adapted for operating the indicator, a yielding connection between said device and said pull rod whereby the device is actuated in proportion to the pull put upon the rod.

'3. In a vehicle brake, actuating mechanism therefor including a lever connected to said mechanism, means for operating said lever to actuate the brake, a second lever to which the first lever is fulcrumed, an indicater for indicating the degree of actuation of the brake, means connecting said second lever and said indicator for operation of the indicator.

4. In an automobile, a brake on a Wheel thereof, a rod for operating the brake, a device for tensioning said rod, an indicator located on the automobile remote from the brake, a movable pointer on said indicator, means for moving said pointer embracing a flexible device extending from the indicator and connected for operation with the rod.

5. In a vehicle brake, a pressure lever connected to the brake to operate it, a second lever to which the first lever is fulcrumed, said second lever being movable to yield to pressure applied to the first lever, means for applying pressure to the first lever, resilient means for restricting movement of the second lever and means for indicating the movement of the second lever.

6. In a vehicle brake, a pressure lever connected to the brake to operate it, a sec ond lever to which the first lever is fulcrumed, said second lever being movable to yield to pressure applied to the first lever, means for applying pressure to the first lever, resilient means "for restricting moverneht of the second lever, and means for indicating the movement of the second lever, comprising a dial with a movable pointer thereon, and a flexible device extending from the second lever to the dial and operatively connected for moving the pointer" around the dial,

GEQRG-hl T. PARS'LEY. 

